AIDY BOOTHROYD last night defended his decision to field an entire team of fringe players as Watford scraped through 6-5 on penalties against League Two side Accrington.

The Hornets' boss changed his whole line-up following the 0-0 draw to Aston Villa on Saturday to give his squad players a run-out.

And Watford needed sudden death before dispatching Stanley, who were promoted as Conference champions last season after 44 years outside the Football League.

Anthony McNamee struck the winning penalty much to the relief of Boothroyd, who wanted to rest his first team ahead of Saturday's game at Wigan. Boothroyd said: "Our squad isn't deep enough to play some of the lads who play in the Premiership in case we get an injury. But I still thought we had enough in the team tonight to go and win it as we have some excellent young players not in the side who need first-team experience.

"It was a good opportunity to see what the younger lads are all about. And I think there's one or two who will eventually be able to cope with the Premiership."

The result was harsh on the visitors - playing their first game against top-flight opposition since 1961 - who more than matched Watford for 120 minutes.

Stanley brought on substitute keeper Robert Elliott, on loan from Charlton, for Ian Dunbavin in the penalty shoot-out.

And it went to sudden death after both club's first five penalties takers all scored from the spot. But Stanley skipper Peter Cavanagh saw his effort saved by Richard Lee, James Chambers hit the bar, then Lee saved the visitors' next spot-kick by Paul Mullin.

That allowed McNamee to fire Boothroyd's men into the third round.

Stanley boss John Coleman, who had seen an Ian Craney first-half 'goal' disallowed for a push on keeper Lee, said: "Peter Cavanagh's penalty was shocking and the lads changed the order of penalty takers without my permission, which is also annoying."